The Bar News

Bar News Sections

Abraham Lincoln

  • May 29, 2014 | CLE
    CLE: Lessons in Professional Responsibility: From the Illinois Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln

    Join us in Springfieldon June 12th to celebrate Lincoln the Lawyer and earn three hours of Professional responsibility MCLE credit, including 3.0 hours Professional Responsibility credit (subject to approval)! Learn about professional responsibility from one of Illinois’ greatest lawyers, Abraham Lincoln, as you listen to the words of Lincoln and his law partner, William Herndon, through recorded reenactments of their recollections of cases, letters, speeches, and stories. The presentations are based upon historic research provided by John Lupton, Administrative Director of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission. The historic settings of the re-enactments, the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office and the Old State Capitol in Springfield, were provided courtesy of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. After each recollection, John Lupton discusses the historical context, while our distinguished panel of attorneys and judges examine how the professional responsibility issues are addressed in the 21st century practice of law. The program provides opportunities for you to engage in discussions on the issues in your practice setting.Parking is available under the Old State Capitol and in the parking garage at the corner of 6th and Madison Streets.

    Click here for more information and to register.

  • April 12, 2012 | Events
    McHenry County Bar Association putting on production of play depicting Lincoln's last murder trial – Raising money for 4 charities

    The McHenry County Bar Association (MCBA) is taking the stage – and for a good cause – four causes actually. The MCBA is putting on a production of a very recent one-act play entitled “The Affray: Lincoln’s Last Murder Case.” The script was based on actual transcripts from People v. Peachy Quinn Harrison, a trial from Sangamon County  in 1859, and is purported to be Abraham Lincoln’s successful defense of Mr. Harrison before he went on to the national stage. The play is the work of two Illinois Wesleyan University professors, Robert Bray and Jared Brown.

    The idea for the local production came from Huntley attorney and past MCBA President Michael J. Fleck, who saw the original production last June in Bloomington at the historic Courthouse as put on by the McLean County Museum in partnership with Illinois Voices Theatre. After seeing the play, which he described as entertaining and interesting, he asked the authors if they would be interested in having the play re-produced, to which they agreed. After taking his idea to the MCBA Board of Governors, it was decided that the play could be presented in conjunction with “Law Day” festivities – a number of MCBA sponsored events celebrating the legal system that are participated in by a number of Bar Associations and coordinated overall by the American Bar Association (ABA).

  • March 1, 2012 | ISBA News
    ISBA provides Lincoln photo to Beecher City High School

    The Illinois State Bar Association helped provide a special photograph of Abraham Lincoln to Beecher City High School. The photograph, made by Alexander Hesler in 1860, was reproduced from glass plates and made available through the Illinois State Historical Society.

    The ISBA and Beecher City Merchants Association purchased the photo for the school. At the school assembly presentation of the photo, photographer PJ Ryan talked about the photographic significance of the image; area Lincoln buff and businessman Jerry White told the students about Lincoln, the poet and leader, and attorney William Austin of Effingham, representing the Illinois Bar Association, talked about Lincoln, the self-educated lawyer. Posing with the photo are (from left) Jerry White, student council officers Mitch Kline, Mitchell Zacha and Breeanna Strauch, William Austin and PJ Ryan.

  • August 16, 2011 | Events
    Retrials of Mary Surratt to be held in Chicago and Springfield

    The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission will hold two retrials of Mary Surratt. Surratt was the first woman executed by the United States after she was convited of conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. 

    The first retrial will be held in Chicago on Sept. 23 at the Pritzker Auditorium, Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State. The cast will include Judge James B. Zagel as Judge; Karen Conti and Ed Genson for the Defense; Jim Montgomery and Dan Webb for the Prosecution and Bill Kurtis as Reporter. Tickets are $25 and are still available by calling (312) 554-2057.

    The second retrial will be held on Oct. 3 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The case will include Justice Thomas Appleton as Judge; Aasne Vigessa as Mary Surratt; Steven Beckett and Greg Harris for the Defense; Bill Davis and Carol Posegate for the Prosecution and Rich Bradley as Reporter. Tickets are sold out for the Springfield show.

    Audiences will render a verdict on the fate of Surratt.

  • March 30, 2011 | ISBA News
    ISBA donates Lincoln Books to Carbondale Public Library
    ISBA President Mark D. Hassakis (third from left) is joined by Abraham Lincoln re-creator Joe Woodard (in costume), in presenting a four-volume set of books, The Papers of Abraham Lincoln, to the Carbondale Public Library on Wednesday, March 23, as a gift from the ISBA. Accepting the books is Lori Torbeck, reference librarian. On hand for the presentation were (beginning second from left) Treva O’Neill, Shari Rhode, and Eugenia Hunter, all lawyers in Carbondale. In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth in 2009, the ISBA is donating a set of the books to a library in all 102 Illinois counties.
  • April 19, 2010 | ISBA News
    Judge Spears, IJA presented with ISBA Lincoln street banners
    [caption id="attachment_10461" align="alignright" width="300" caption="ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing Chair John Bailen, IJA President Ron Spears, IJA 1st VP Lewis M. Nixon, IJA Secretary M. Carol Pope, IJA 3rd VP Rita M. Novak and ISBA President John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John G. O'Brien presented ISBA street banners to the Illinois Judges Association and its president, Judge Ron Spears, at the Annual Judicial Education Conference on Monday at the Swissotel Chicago. The banners were produced in commemoration of the  200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The banners were displayed at various locations in downtown Chicago and in Springfield during the year-long celebration. Also on hand for the presentation were IJA 1st VP Lewis M. Nixon, IJA Secretary M. Carol Pope, IJA 3rd VP Rita M. Novak and John Bailen, chair, ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing.
  • February 4, 2010 | ISBA News
    Aldermen Burke and Fioretti presented with ISBA Lincoln street banners
    [caption id="attachment_8160" align="alignright" width="300" caption="John Bailen, Russell Hartigan, Ald. Fioretti, Ald. Burke and ISBA President John O'Brien"][/caption] ISBA President John G. O'Brien presented ISBA street banners to Aldermen Robert Fioretti and Ed Burke, both lawyers, in gratitude for their assistance in the bar association's commemoration of the  200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. The banners were displayed at various locations in downtown Chicago and in Springfield during the year-long celebration.  Also on hand for the presentation at Burke's City Hall office were ISBA Board Member Russell Hartigan and John Bailen, chair, ISBA Committee on Strategic Marketing.
  • January 8, 2010 | Member Services
    Get your free printable 2010 Lincoln calendar
    We hope you enjoy this free printable 2010 calendar - The Unfinished Work. Feel free to print out as many calendars as you'd like and pass them along to your family, friends and clients. The Unfinished Work is an excerpt from Proceedings before the Illinois Supreme Court in Honor of Abraham Lincoln, delivered by the President of the Illinois State Bar Association upon the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln photo mosaic was created using photos of ISBA members. Click here to download your copy
  • November 18, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    Lincoln's Legacy: Lawyers Who Protect Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
    [gallery link="file" columns="2"] The Illinois State Bar Association's Joint Meeting begins with a special program on Thursday, Dec. 10, Lincoln's Legacy: Lawyers Who Protect Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- including a keynote address by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and a panel discussion moderated by WTTW Chicago Tonight Host Phil Ponce. The event begins at 1 p.m. and is sponsored by the Diversity Leadership Council. In celebration of President Obama's Call to Service and International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10), learn how lawyers are making a difference through their work in advancing human rights, equality and other social movements. Find out about opportunities to make a difference and how you can make a contribution to social justice through volunteerism as well as with the clients you serve. A variety of organizations that provide services fitting the "Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness" will be on hand so that you can explore this marketplace to discover how you can best use your talents to "make a difference". 1:00 p.m.     Welcome & Introductions by President John O'Brien 1:30 p.m.     Keynote Address by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan 1:45 p.m.     Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness Panel moderated by Phil Ponce, WTTW-TV 2:45 p.m.     Diversity Leadership Award Presentation 3:00 p.m.     Call to Service Marketplace
  • September 25, 2009 | ISBA News
    Lincoln documentary nominated for Mid-American Emmy
    The WILL-TV documentary Lincoln: Prelude to the Presidency, which the Illinois State Bar Association helped produce for the Lincoln bicentennial, has been nominated for a Mid-America Emmy Award. The Lincoln program focused on Abraham Lincoln's experiences as a lawyer on the circuit in central Illinois and was nominated for best historical documentary. Alison Davis Wood produced the program, and Tim Hartin and Colin Hartin were co-producers. Wood was also nominated in the program writing category, and Tim Hartin and Colin Hartin were nominated along with Julius Bolton for program photography. The Lincoln documentary aired last February on PBS stations across the country during Lincoln's Bicentennial. Click here to order the DVD.